More Fintlock Rifle Photographs

Here is an image of the sideplate, somewhat of my own design.

For what's it worth, my next project will be a Hawkins rifle using a piece of Claro Walnut that a friend (Tony Montoya) of mine gave me. There is enough wood for a Hawkins rifle stock and two pistols (flintlock). At this point in time I rather doubt I'll do another flintlock rifle as I've finally built what I want.

The rifle barrel, end cap, and ramrod. This also shows the nice curl to the maple and finished color of the wood after the application of Nitric Acid, Potassium Permanganate and Alkanet Root.

These images show: The Delux Siler lock with an original flint from the period; the possible bag, powder measure, pan brush and vent pick, and Buffalo powder horn that I made a year or so ago; and the incised carving on the butt of the rifle. I didn't remember to take photographs of the barrel browning process nor cutting the slots for the sights and barrel lugs. For me this is a comfortable and rather lightweight rifle that will be fun to shoot.

Flintlock Rifles

These are three flintlock rifles that I have built or in the process of building. The pelt for the bear rug was donated by a Black bear who was shot in Northern California in 2009. I didn't shot the bear but the person who did had no use for the pelt so I paid to have it tanned and ruggified. It used to reside in the living room but the wife didn't approve so it's now in the wine cellar. The rifles from top to bottom are the styles from Lancaster Co., Penn. (Federal period); York Co., Penn, (Colonial period); and Lehigh Valley, Penn. (1800).




This is the Lehigh Valley rifle after a few months of part-time work. It has a .50 caliber swamped barrel with a stump cut very nice piece of curly maple. This is also the first rifle I have built where I starting with a hunk of lumber. The fellow from whom I purchased the wood (Ronald Scott) and I band sawed out the rough shape. To my eye the Lehigh/Allentown style of rifle is the most pleasing and this one is following the general character of the type built by Herman Rupp.




A closer view from the sideplate
towards the butt. The carving style is the incised style of the period Lehigh Valley rifles. I plan on using a sliding wood patch box. Primarily because I feel a brass patchbox would hide to much of the wood's character.